Jharkhand targeting to finish 1 lakh minor irrigation, water harvesting projects in 2022-23

29 Jun 2022 , 04:01 PM

Approximately one lakh minor irrigation, water harvesting, and groundwater recharge initiatives would be finished in the current fiscal year, the Jharkhand government said on Wednesday (29-06-2022). According to the government, more than 1.4 lakh projects under the Nilambar-Pitambar Jal Samridhi Yojana have already been finished in 2021—2022.

The plan has a considerable impact on raising groundwater levels and improving agricultural irrigation. In the years 2021—2022, around 73,034 trench-cum-bund schemes and 60,820 field bund schemes were finished.

According to a statement from the state administration, the government is aiming to meet the goal of 99,345 schemes for the fiscal year 2022—2023 that has been established. The upper Tand’ (barren) area is being treated via saturation mode under the Nilambar-Pitambar Jal Samridhi Yojana by implementing the principle of watershed management, it added.

The state government is promoting the use of rainwater collecting for irrigation. The MGNREGA program covers projects such as trench-cum-bund, check dams, field bund, soak pits, med bandi, pond repair, etc.

It is said that as a result, the villagers are given a method to earn a living in their own community, and water that would often flow away during the monsoon is preserved. Trench-cum-Bunds were most often built in the Giridih district during the previous fiscal year when a total of 11,305 were built. In Garhwa, 10,125 were built, while 8,466 schemes in Latehar were finished.

Maximum field bund plans have been completed in Seraikela with a total of 6,676, compared to 6,150 in West Singhbhum and 5,464 in Chatra. According to the Nilambar-Pitambar Jal Samridhi Yojana, the government is attempting to reach a goal of 49,589 trench-cum-bunds and 49,756 field bunds in the fiscal year 2022—2023.

Up until June 2022, 7,490 Trench-cum-Bund projects and 6,689 Field Bund schemes had been finished, while 42,099 Trench-cum-Bund schemes and 43,067 Field Bund schemes were still under construction.

All throughout the state, the Nilambar-Pitambar Jal Samridhi Yojana is being operated in mission mode. According to Manish Ranjan, Secretary of the Rural Development Department, the government wants to put the means of subsistence at people’s doorsteps.